Weapon usage monitoring system having discharge event monitoring based on movement speed

Abstract

A method for determining an operational status of a firearm based on a discharge event is provided. A signal indicative of a plurality of accelerations sensed by an inertial measurement unit is received by an event detection module. A sample shot profile is determined based on the signal. The shot profile can comprise a first peak at a first time representing initial discharge of the firearm wherein a bolt of the firearm moves from an initial forward position, a second peak at a second time, representing the bolt engaging a rear buffer of the firearm, and a third peak at a third time, representing the bolt returning to the forward position. A measured bolt speed of the weapon is determined based on a difference between the second and third times. The measured bold speed is compared to a baseline weapon bolt speed. An operational status of the weapon is determined.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for determining an operational status of a firearm based on a discharge event, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an event detection module, a signal indicative of a plurality of accelerations sensed by at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU); 
 determining a sample shot profile based on the signal, the sample shot profile comprising:
 a first peak at a first time representing initial discharge of the firearm wherein a bolt of the firearm moves from an initial forward position; 
 a second peak at a second time, subsequent to the first time, representing the bolt engaging a rear buffer of the firearm; 
 a third peak at a third time, subsequent to the second time, representing the bolt returning to the forward position; 
 
 determining a measured bolt speed of the weapon based on a difference between the second and third times; 
 comparing the measured bolt speed to a baseline weapon bolt speed; and 
 determining an operational status of the weapon based on the comparing. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  the operational status comprises a maintenance status. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the maintenance status comprises a determination that the firearm has insufficient cycle speed. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 sending a notification to a user of the firearm indicative of the maintenance status. 
 
     
     
       5. A method for determining an operational status of a firearm based on a discharge event, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an event detection module, a signal indicative of a plurality of accelerations sensed by at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU); 
 determining a sample shot profile based on the signal; 
 comparing the sample shot profile to a baseline shot profile representative of a properly functioning firearm, the baseline shot profile comprising:
 a first peak at a first time representing initial discharge of the firearm wherein a bolt of the firearm moves from an initial forward position; 
 a second peak at a second time, subsequent to the first time, representing the bolt engaging a rear buffer of the firearm; 
 a third peak at a third time, subsequent to the second time, representing the bolt returning to the forward position; 
 
 determining whether the sample shot profile includes all of the first peak, the second peak and the third peak; and 
 determining a failed operational status of the weapon based on a determination that at least one of the first, second and third peaks are missing. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  the operational status comprises a maintenance status. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining that the sample shot profile has an insufficient second peak; 
 determining that the firearm is undergassed based on the insufficient second peak; and 
 sending a notification to a user of the firearm indicative that the firearm is undergassed. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining that the sample shot profile has an insufficient third peak; 
 determining that the firearm is jammed based on the insufficient third peak; and 
 sending a notification to a user of the firearm indicative that the firearm is jammed. 
 
     
     
       9. A method for determining an operational status of a firearm based on a discharge event, the method comprising:
 measuring a first acceleration on the firearm at a first time representing initial discharge of a first discharge event of the firearm; 
 measuring a second acceleration on the firearm at a second time representing initial discharge of a second discharge event of the firearm; 
 calculating a measured shot separation of first and second accelerations between the first and second times; 
 comparing the measured shot separation to at least one shot separation threshold; 
 assigning a speed of a movement member in the firearm based on the comparing; and 
 determining the operational status of the firearm based on the assigned speed. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the movement member comprises a bolt of a bolt carrier group in the firearm. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein the movement member comprises a slide of the firearm. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 receiving, by an event detection module, (i) first acceleration input signals at a first time including a first acceleration input signal along a first axis, a second acceleration input signal along a second axis and a third acceleration input signal along a third axis; 
 calculating a first acceleration vector magnitude from the first acceleration signals at the first time; 
 receiving, by an event detection module, (ii) second acceleration input signals at a second time including a first acceleration input signal along a first axis, a second acceleration input signal along a second axis and a third acceleration input signal along a third axis; and 
 calculating a second acceleration vector magnitude from the second acceleration signals at the second time. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein calculating the measured shot separation further comprises calculating a measured shot separation of the first and second acceleration vector magnitudes between the first and second times. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 accessing a machine learning module that creates and runs identification algorithms using the first and second accelerations. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 accessing a digital signal processing module that compares the first acceleration with a discharge acceleration template that represents a confirmed weapon discharge event; and 
 determining whether the first acceleration is a discharge event based on satisfying the discharge acceleration template. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one shot separation threshold further comprises:
 a second shot separation threshold having a representative shot separation of an old firearm. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 9  wherein the at least one shot separation threshold comprises:
 a first shot separation threshold having a representative shot separation of a new firearm. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 9  wherein the operational status comprises a maintenance status. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18  wherein the maintenance status comprises a determination that the firearm has reached a target lifespan.